The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-03-31
Modern ARTILLERY.

Toward the middls OF The lust cen
tury, the true use Il c,nron iu war
fare was no we'll known tat a sp citl
body of soldiers was ma 10 up To
manipulate them. This body If
cannon soldiers is called artillery
men.
Now, all aililery is divided into
three general classes, according to the
use the guns are pnt to
The first class is " Field Artillery,
aud this consists OF the guns that are
used on the field OF battle, aud are
light enough to move around rapidly
with the army.
The second class is called" Siege
Artillery and to this class belong
oil guns which aro too large aud
heavy to move around rapidly, but
which follow the army and are used
10 laying siege to cities OF fortified
places.
The third class is called "Sea-Coast,
or "permanent,' or "Heavy' artillery.
it consists Of the immense guns too
large 10 be moved sround at all, and
which are mounted in the great forts
aud Notifications at tue mouths OF
rivers harbors, OF near important
cities.
Most all countries use breech-
loading cannon, and tho United
States are making some, which,
when finished, will be the best in the
world. They are made of steel, and
the carriages and limbers are OF
wrought-iron aud steel.
In view Of the auarchistic dev,lJp-
ments in our large cities during the
past year the magazine OF revolving
canton, has been brought into pro-
mineuce as a mode Of rapidly clear
ing the streets in case Of mob
Only a well-disciplined, bravely Of
fcelei army can stand up against
it's deadly shower of bullets Tc
this class belong the Gatling gun
the Gardner qua aud the Ho,chkiss
The Calling shown in our illustration
consists OF u number of rile barrels
generally ten. These are iastenct
so as 10 revolve arourd contra
shaft, to which they are parallel
The barrels are turnsd by means o.
O crank handle, aud, rs each barre
comes uppermost, breech-blocl
slidos back, and cartridge falls from
a feed-case placed above right iutc
the breech. Than little pluugel
pushes the cartridge way in, aud
draws back strong steel pio, aDC
as the barrel comes undermost, th,
pin is released and strikes the car
fridge, exploding it. and the barre
continuing to revolve, another spring
opens the breech and throws out th'
empty shell.
The crank which causes the barrel
10 revolve operates tho entire ma
chanism. Each barrel is fired onct
ouly during a single revolution; but
as there are ten barrels, it makes tel
shots for just ono complete turn o
the crank. One man turns the crank
aud another holds the feedcase, ful
Of cartridges, over the breech Of tL
gun, and others keep this latte
Supplies with fall foei>caso.
THIS gun throws bullets aud smal
shells little ever inches in di
ameter. 1t will throw shower q
projectles at the rate Of 500 min
ute, aud for q distance Of nearly two
miles.
The gun is much lighter and cas-
ier TO move around than field piece
but its carriages and timber auc
caisson are nearly the the same,
The Maxim Machine Gun is an
Other instrumcnt famous fJr lis lis
tructiye powers. The action Of th
gun is automatic, each cartridge be
ing discharged by tke recoiI Of th
shot preceding. The clrtIihses sr'
placed 10 q belt, aud tue empt.
shells are thrown ont in front Of tn,
guu. The rate Of fire is about GOl
tunes minute With The shor'e
aud smaller cartridges, such as az,
used 10 tlo L. 5 army, tue rate 0
fring would be about 700 shots !
minute. Ibe rapidty Of tho fire i
ruch that at thousand yards rang
twenty bullets will strike tue tarGe
after tue g1u ceases to fire, while by
giving the gun a very high elevation
five hundred roupds may be aischnrg
ed before the first bullet strikes til
ground.